TLT BBQ (San Mateo)

TLT BBQ in San Mateo adds another Chinese skewers place to the Bay Area http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/1010212 . They've had a location in Newark since 2011. The menu has pictures depicting each item, so ordering is pretty easy. The servers were attentive and friendly.

Each item was brushed with cumin, chili flakes, and salt... lots of salt. Despite using essentially the same spice mixture on each item, each item was distinguishable from the next in terms of texture, fattiness, and/or flavor. They don't use MSG.

For $14 before tip, I got:

A vegetable (A choy) : lettuce-like flavors in the stem end, and charred flavors in the leaves. Delicious and good value --- an equivalent charred vegetable at a trendy place will charge $7 more for the same portion

Beef tendon -- gelatinous and tender, and a great vehicle for the spices

BBQ steamed bread : a tiny bit dryer than I'd prefer in the the center and no caramelized sugar on the edge, but very good